You've probably heard about HCG diet pills and injections by now. The so-called pregnancy hormone diet plan supposedly helps people shed weight and boost energy. But the FDA is putting the crackdown on these types of diet plans and warning about their safety...

You've probably heard about HCG diet pills and injections by now. The so-called pregnancy hormone diet plan supposedly helps people shed weight and boost energy. But the FDA is putting the crackdown on these types of diet plans and warning about their safety...

HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) diet products come from human placenta protein, which is unregulated and unapproved for use in diet pills, says the FDA. But if you're not turned off by the idea of ingesting ingredients from an unknown woman's placenta (gag), then you might be interested to know that the FDA says these so-called weight loss plans are dangerous and may not even work in the first place (many encourage dieters to take the pills/treatment along with a 500-calorie-a-day diet).

The FDA has already ordered several companies to stop selling HCG products, many of which sell their products online from so-called doctors. "These products are marketed with incredible claims and people think that if they're losing weight, HCG must be working," said Elizabeth Miller, of FDA's division for non-prescription drugs and health fraud, in a statement. "But the data simply does not support this--any loss is from severe calorie restriction. Not from the HCG."